Monday, September 30, 2013

The 20 Things You Need To Let Go To Be Happy

Found this article from Ashley Fern of Pennsylvania and it's rather interesting to read.. =)

Everyone has one common goal in life: to achieve true happiness. The
biggest factor holding us back from achieving our dreams is, simply and
sadly, our own selves. We put limitations on ourselves everyday, whether
intentionally or unintentionally. There are so many ways we can
alleviate these restraints.

Remember, life can either be something you embrace or something you
hide from. Stop making things complicated and just live your life. It
would be so much simpler and more enjoyable if we learned to just
release certain limitations.

Let’s take a look at the things you need to let go of in order to become a happier person.

1. The Approval Of Others
Who gives a sh*t what other people think? If you are happy with the
decisions you have made, then whose business is that but your own? Think
of how much you could achieve if you stopped letting other people’s
opinions dictate the way you live your life. Do you, and engage in
whatever actions you think might better your life.

2. Anger/Resentment
Anger will eat at you from the inside. Learn how to make peace with
those who have wronged you. This isn’t about letting the other person
off the hook; it’s about alleviating the pain that resonates within you.
Keep in mind that he who angers you, controls you.

3. Negative Body Image
There is only one person’s opinion you should be concerned with when
it comes to your body and that is you. No one person determines what the
“correct” body type is. If you are comfortable in your own skin, and
you are healthy, then that should be the only thing that matters. Do not
let others tell you that you’re not beautiful because if you believe
you are, then you are.

4. Idea Of A Perfect Partner
There is no such thing as a perfect partner, so throw your checklist
out the window. In life, what prevents us from moving forward is looking
at the perfect image of a partner we concoct in our minds. Find the
right person for you: one that you can love with all your heart, one you
feel comfortable with and one that accepts you for the person you are.
The sooner you realize there isn’t one perfect person out there for you,
the better off you will be.

5. Perfect Life
Just like there is no perfect partner, there is also not a perfect
life. Life is what you put into it, so if you are not willing to work
hard and put forth effort, you will most likely end up miserable. The
choices you make will directly reflect the life you lead. It is up to
you to create the best possible world for yourself.

6. You’re Going To Be Rich
Too many people live their lives with the thought that they will be
millionaires. While this can be a realistic goal for some, it is not
something that can be achieved without hard work and dedication. Stop
letting money be your sole motivator; find a career you are passionate
about and immerse yourself in it completely.

7. The Idea That Good Fortune Will Arrive At Your Doorstep
You need to go out into the world and actively look for fulfillment.
You cannot take a backseat in life and expect things to happen for you.
Appreciate the life you live, and be grateful for what you have. Value
each minute of every day. Live like there’s no tomorrow, and make the
most out of any situation.

8. Excuses
Make no time for excuses. You want to work out, but you don’t have
the time? Wake up early and get your gym on. Excuses are only
rationalizations that make you feel better about yourself for not doing
something you want/need to be doing. You desire results? Stop bitching,
and start doing.

9. Thoughts Of Your Ex
This person is your ex for a reason. If you are going to think of him
or her at all, try and think only about the lessons the experience
taught you. Do not linger on any old feelings, as this will only prevent
you from being happy with someone else in the future.

10. Stubbornness
I know it’s hard to admit, but sometimes you are just wrong. Other
people have just as much capability as you do in providing the correct
answer, so stop being stubborn and just embrace it. The less stubborn
you act, the more open you are to learning new things. Think of all you
could be exposed to if you stopped believing in opinions other than your
own.

11. Procrastination
Stop thinking you will finally get to whatever task is at hand
tomorrow. Live in the present, and get your sh*t done when it needs to
be done. Maximize your time to the best of your ability. Complete each
task you need to as soon as you can. This allows you to feel free from
worry and stress by getting things out of the way as soon as possible.
You also allow yourself more free time to enjoy the things you love.

12. Your Baggage
We have all been hurt one time or another by someone we loved, or we
thought we loved. Carrying negative feelings into future relationships
will only prove to be disastrous. No two people are the same, so it’s
unfair to hold a future partner to a standard set by an ex. Try to begin
each new relationship with a clean slate.

13. Negativity
What you put out into the universe will come back to you, so change
the way you think, immediately. Stop thinking of life as a glass half
empty, but rather, half full. You have so much to be grateful for, if
only you took a moment to appreciate it. Anything is possible in the
mind of a positive thinker.

14. Judgmental Thoughts
Why do people feel the need to constantly worry about what is going
on in other people’s lives? If we spent as much time worrying about our
own behaviors as we do worrying about those of others, our lives would
be a whole lot more meaningful. You have no idea what is going on in
another person’s life, so who are you to pass judgment on the way they
act?

15. Jealousy
Happiness is not having what you want; it’s wanting what you have.
Stop envying others and learn to appreciate what you have. Everyone’s
life is unique; you have certain things to offer that others cannot.
When we act in a jealous manner, all we do is bring negative feelings
into our lives. There is absolutely nothing to gain from behaving this
way.

16. Insecurity
Happy people tend to have extremely high levels of self-esteem. They
accept who they are and work it everyday of their lives. They radiate
confidence, flaunt their pride and give off positive vibes. There is no
reason to be insecure in life. If there are things you are
self-conscious about, go out into the world and seek to change them.
Only you have the ability to create the best version of yourself.

17. Depending On Others For Happiness
At the end of the day, the only person you can count on 100 percent
of the time is yourself. Do not make the unfortunate mistake many people
do and put your happiness in the hands of others. A relationship is not
going to fulfill the void if you can’t even make yourself happy. You
need to achieve happiness on your own before you can find someone else
to share it with. This creates a detrimental dependency that will
prevent you from becoming self-sufficient.

18. The Past
Stop living in the past! There is virtually nothing you can gain if
you wallow in mistakes you have previously made. Take past mistakes as
lessons learned, and move forward. You cannot wholeheartedly move on to a
better future if you are constantly looking behind you. Things
happened, and that’s that. Take them with a grain of salt and move on.

19. The Need For Control
Sometimes you just need to let life happen the way it is meant to.
You cannot spend your life stressing about things that are outside of
your control. Try to relax, and let things play out naturally. Embrace
the unknown, as this is where you will be surprised the most. Let
yourself be whisked into unforeseen endeavors, and relish in the
excitement they bring.

20. Expectations
Managing your expectations is the key to happiness. If you let go of
expectations, you will never be disappointed. Often, we tend to believe
that the way we treat others will be the way we are treated in return.
Unfortunately, this does not always happen. Do not expect a certain
result from any given situations. Go into an experience with an open
mind. This will allow you to fully immerse yourself, without the
pressure of living up to preconceived notions.